Bush condemns Russian 'invasion' of Georgia

US President George W Bush has told Russia to end its military action in Georgia, calling Moscow's push into the smaller country an unacceptable invasion of a sovereign state.

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people. Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century," Mr Bush said.

"There is evidence that Russian forces may soon begin bombing the civilian airport in the capital city.

"If these reports are accurate, these Russian actions would represent a dramatic and brutal escalation of the conflict in Georgia."

Washington does not have a lot of room to manoeuvre in this situation.

Mr Bush would be acutely aware that the US needs Moscow's support on some major international issues, including Iran's suspected nuclear program and the moves to denuclearise North Korea.

The simmering conflict erupted last Thursday when Georgia suddenly sent forces to retake South Ossetia, which threw off Georgian rule in the 1990s and declared itself independent, albeit without international recognition.

Moscow responded with a counter-attack by its vastly bigger forces that drove Georgian troops out of the devastated South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on Sunday.

Georgia has appealed for international intervention and has pulled its battered forces back to defend the capital, as Russian troops move further into its territory, ignoring Western pleas to halt military occupation.

"The Georgian army is retreating to defend the capital. The Government is urgently seeking international intervention to prevent the fall of Georgia," a Georgian statement said.

Moscow snubbed a plea from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers for a ceasefire.

It said Georgia had not kept a promise to halt fighting and was shelling the Russian-held region of South Ossetia where the conflict began last Thursday.

A second reporter heard heavy artillery bombardments on the road north of the wrecked town.

A senior Georgian official later claimed that Russian troops had seized the Georgian town of Gori, some 40 kilometres from South Ossetia.

Moscow denied that report and a Reuters correspondent said no troops were visible in Gori's streets. The correspondent said a column of Georgian military trucks was visible on the highway moving out of Gori eastwards towards the capital Tbilisi.

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